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DeepRootStudy.com TABLE OF CONTENTS chapter fifteen, pg 6 chapter sixteen, pg 20 chapter seventeen, pg 34 chapter eighteen, pg 42 chapter nineteen, pg 52 chapter twenty, pg 64 chapter twenty-one, pg 68 ACTS CHART CHAPTER DESCRIPTION Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 48 - 49 A.D. 51 - 52 A.D. 54 A.D. • Council at Jerusalem • Writing of I • Paul in Ephesus ( A (A 15) Thessalonians 19) • Second Missionary • Third Missionary Jour- Journey Begins ney Begins • Paul in Philippi (A 16) • Paul in Corinth (A 18) • Paul in Thessalonica, • Writing of II Berea, Athens (A 17) Thessalonians (It is nearly impossible to know the exact dates and even years of the events in Acts, so these are approximate times determined by Bible scholars.) 2 - book of acts: part 3 & TIMELINE CHAPTER DESCRIPTION Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 57 A.D. 58 - 59 A.D. 61 - 64 A.D. • Paul in Macedonia • Writing of II • Luke writes the book and Greece ( A 20) Corinthians of Acts • Writing of I • Writing of Romans Corinthians • Paul Returns to • Writing of Galatians Jerusalem (A 21) • Paul’s Arrest at Jerusalem (A 21 - 23) deep roots bible studies - 3 MAJOR & MINOR FIGURES Agabus: A prophet who predicted a famine (A 11) and Paul’s imprisonment (A 21) Alexander: A high priest of Jerusalem (A 4:6, 19:33) Apollos: A Jew of Alexandria, with knowledge of the Scriptures. (A 18-19) Aquila: Lives in Corinth with wife Priscilla, mentors Apollos (A 18) Peter, Apostle Aristarchus: One of Paul’s traveling companions Spokesperson of early from Macedonia (A 19:29, 20:4) church Crispus: The synagogue leader of Corinth whom Paul baptized (A 18:8) Damaris: Athenian woman, becomes a believer after hearing Paul preach (A 17:34) Demetrius: Silversmith of shrines of Artemis, leads revolt against Paul (A 19) Dionysius: Athenian, a member of the Areopagus, Paul, Missionary Preaches to the Gentiles becomes a believer (A 17:34) Plants several churches Erastus: One of Paul’s helpers who is sent to Mace- donia with Timothy (A 19:22) Eutychus: Young man who fell out of window and died, raised from the dead (A 20) 4 - book of acts: part 3 Gallio: Proconsul of Achaia, dismissed the Corinthians’ arguments (A 18) Gaius: One of Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia (A 19:29, 20:4) James: Brother of Jesus, lives in Jerusalem (A 21) Jason: Believer in Thessalonica, seized when mob could not find Paul or Silas (A 17) Judas (Barsabbas): Chosen to bring epistle to Antioch, a prophet (A 15) Lydia: From Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, worshiper of God (A 16:14-15) Mark: Left 1st missionary journey, joins Barnabas, wrote the gospel "Mark" (A 15:39) Mnason: From Cyprus, one of the early disciples, Paul stays at his house (A 21:16) Philip: Evangelist, one of the overseers of Jerusalem, lives in Caesarea (A 21:8) Priscilla: Lives in Corinth with husband Aquila, mentors Apollos (A 18) Sceva: Jewish chief priest whose seven sons practiced exorcism (A 19:14) Secundus: Thessalonican, accompanies Paul and waits at Troas (A 20:3-5) Silas: Brings epistle to Antioch, a prophet, Paul’s new travel companion (A 15-18) Sopater: Son of Pyrrhus from Berea, accompanies Paul and waits at Troas (A 20:3-5) Timothy: Jewish and Greek, Joins Paul and Silas on missionary journeys (A 16-20) Titius Justus: Worshiper of God who Paul visits in Corinth (A 18:7) Trophimus: From the province of Asia, accompanies Paul & waits at Troas (A 20:3-5) Tychicus: From the province of Asia, accompanies Paul and waits at Troas (A 20:3-5) Sosthenes: Synagogue leader in Corinth who is beat up by the crowd (A 18:17) deep roots bible studies - 5 Chapter 15 THE BOOK OF ACTS Goals For This Week: • See how the early church resolved major issues within their community, and learn from their methods • Understand that even when the Holy Spirit is moving and God’s growing the Church, man’s own pride and philosophies can cause problems • Realize that interpersonal conflicts can break friendships and ministries when both parties are not willing to compromise DAY ONE: DIVISION IN THE CHURCH Welcome to the third part of Acts! Up until now, the early church has been spreading throughout the Middle East as persecution has begun. Meanwhile, Paul and Barnabas just finished their first missionary journey (chapters 13 to 14), but have settled back in Antioch. Although there has been some disputes amongst these early Christians already, this is the first time where there is intense, even heated debate, about issues in the church. Read Acts 15 in its entirety. As you do so, underline every location in a special color (you already began doing this in the last part of Acts, so continue to use whatever color you used then). Also pay 6 - book of acts: part 3 attention to any people introduced in this chapter. We’ve included a list of people on pages 4 - 5 just in case you forget who is who. Once you finish reading, answer the following questions: • What dispute is being debated in this chapter? (Verses 1 and 5) • Who is sent to look into this matter? From where? (Verses 2 – 3) • What is Peter’s argument to the Pharisees? (Verses 6 – 11) • What is James’ argument to the Pharisees? (Verses 13 – 21) • What do these early Christians decide to do? (Verse 22) deep roots bible studies - 7 We will dive into this chapter more tomorrow. For now, notice how no one told the Pharisees to basically sit down and be quiet. Oftentimes, pastors resist church members who bring forth criticism, and use excuses like, “You need to humble yourself before the Lord and figure out why this thing about our church bothers you.” Instead, the leaders in Jerusalem were willing to discuss, and even debate, these issues. Other churches, like Antioch, even sent representatives to take part in this discussion. So, what can we, as modern Christians, takeaway from these early Christians’ example? Is it good or bad for Christians to have discussions regarding disagreements? Why? Think of something in your own church, ministry, friends group, business, etc. that people cannot agree on. What is it, and how is this dispute affecting people? How can this dispute be solved? 8 - book of acts: part 3 PHARISEES The idea that Pharisees were involved in the Council of Jerusalem may seem strange initially. Weren’t these the same guys who had Jesus Christ crucified? However, because Pharisees believed in the possibility of a resurrection, unlike their Sadducees counterparts, it is probable that Pharisees would eventually have believed in Jesus Christ. I. Howard Marshall, though, explains that it would not have been easy for Pharisees to become Christians who embraced Jesus’ grace. It says we “underestimate what a colossal step it was for dyed-in-the- wool Jewish legalism to adopt a new way of thinking.” The Pharisees had been raised on keeping the Law perfectly. Now, they must release the bonds of the Law in order to accept Jesus’ grace. Further, J. Vernon McGee explains that the Pharisees involved in the Council were not denying Christ. There had been too many witnesses of Jesus’ life, min- istry, death, and resurrection to pull off that argument then. Instead, there was a contention over the facts of Christ’s salvation and how to attain it. Yet, J. Vernon McGee warns us, “[The Pharisees] wanted to add something to the Gospel. Friend, whenever you add something to the Gospel, you no longer have the Gospel but you have a religion. You no longer have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The only approach that you can make to Jesus Christ is by faith.” Let this be a warning to us! So often the Christian community gets stuck in legalism, because that is what we have been raised with like the Pharisees. Instead, we are to embrace Jesus’ grace and our faith in Him. This doesn’t mean we do not observe the Law, like the 10 Commandments, but this does mean we are no lon- ger slaves to it! (Romans 6:14, 7:4-6) deep roots bible studies - 9 DAY TWO: CHURCH GROWING PAINS The entire issue in Acts 15 is whether or not Gentiles need to be circumcised or not to be fully saved. Remember that this argument was introduced by Pharisees who had been saved. These men whole lives have been about studying Old Testament Law. Why would these Pharisees think it was necessary to be circumcised? Read Genesis 17:10-13, where the Lord first introduced the concept of circumcision. List His instructions: What was the law regarding Gentiles who recognized Jewish feasts and customs? (Exodus 12:48) Do you remember how this issue was already raised in Acts 11? You have already studied this chapter in full, so just take another look at verses 16 to 18, and summarize Peter’s argument then: Let’s look at one last passage. Read Romans 3:21-30, and summarize what is Paul’s argument on this matter: 10 - book of acts: part 3 DAY THREE: THE EPISTLE In Acts 15, the council at Jerusalem decides to send a letter to the believers at Antioch, as well as the regions of Syria and Cilicia.